Seeds and new plants!
by Schnauzevoll
Hey there, Internet!
I may or may not have told you already about the horror my plants went through early this year. Literally overnight a lot of them were covered with some bugs that, of course, managed to kill a lot of them (oh the joy of living downstairs, not.) and at the same time most of the other plants dropped all of their leaves, started to look like they were made from gummy, probably mourning their siblings. I tried to save them desperately, clicked like crazy through the internet. Sadly I only was able to save a handful of plants. Still mourning my ‘kids’ I realized that it at least happened just before springtime and so I could grow some new ones again. Since I actually have plans for every tiny spot on my balcony and kitchen window (bedroom only has a tiny bit of open window because working nightshift means sleeping daytimes and hence requires some darkness.
Orocereus celsanius / Old man of the mountain before moving into a slightly bigger pot.
The bit of bedroom window that offers daylight though gets a lot of sun, that place was reserved for a Oreocereus celsianus (cactus, old man of the mountain) This guy usually survives winter times outdoors as well so maybe when he is big enough he will move to the balcony but for now, welcome to my flat, old man!
Brave Gyonostemma Pentaphyllum, this is what grew within maybe a week!
My kitchen window usually offers only a bit of sunlight, in summer it was good enough for a lot of herbs but in autumn I had to move them to a spot with more sunlight. To me my herbs are the main reason why I love growing plants. Nothing can beat the feeling of having your own collection of herbs, for cooking, teas, creating delicious smelling stuff (oh the essential oils and incenses) and simply to look at. The Gyonostemma Pentaphyllum (Jiaogulan) actually seems as if it survived the bugs and mysterious gummy movement of my plants (had to cut most of it though) that plant grows faster than the speed of light and seems to enjoy the darker spot in my kitchen window! Allium Ursinum (Ramson) has been planted from seeds this march, it grows in local woods and is said to also need less light or heat! I also am still hoping the Levisticum Officinale (Lovage) survived, that it will grow again after the big cut, usually was happy in my kitchen window as well.
Tiny sprouts, I hope you guys will like your new home!
The tiny indoor greenhouse was filled with some seeds as well, has spot for 15 plants and since I like to try a bit which fertilizer and how much water works best I decided for 5 plants, 3 spots for each: Rumex sanguineus ssp. San. (bloody dock)- Rosmarinus Officinalis (rosemary) – lavendula latifolia (broadleafed lavender) – Mandragora off. V. Autumnalis (mandrake) – artemisia absinthium (wormwood), some seem to be growing happy already, some not so much, even though I did a bit of research on all of them, especially those that I have never grown from seeds before, maybe I need to try again next month with those that are still a bit shy!
Any herb parents amongst my readers? What are your plant plans for 2016? Have a nice evening!
Sorry, I dont have any advice to give. I am just learning to grow plants but i do wish you luck. I am sorry you had that experience with those bugs
Don’t worry, even those green thumbed people I have been talking to were confused and usuallyI would know how to treat my herbs as well 😦 still a bit sad…
I love the nicknames you give your plants and your contagious affection for them! Poor plants being attacked by those buggies 😦 I wish I could keep a plant alive, but I appear to have a dead thumb. I also have cats so there’s that, and I have to be careful with which ones I even keep. I had no ideas lilies were no-nos with kitties until it was almost too late. I myself am also allergic. Their fragrance makes me sneeze.
I do buy poinsettias around Christmas time, and they become my babies for as long as I can keep them alive.
True, there are a lot of dangerous plants for cats, I think tomato plants are as well? But good when your body obviously reacts allergic to what harms your cats! 🙂
Surprisingly, poinsettias aren’t poisonous to them, which makes me happy because I love those things.
That’s good news then I guess!
Good luck with the plants!
Night shift and sleeping day? How vampiric! 😛
Thank you and maybe I should grab some vampire movies and see if there are more things in common because that’s been for 6 years now!
You are a good plant mommy! I am sorry about the ones that got the bugs! Sorry you were only able to save a few! Remember, if you put a plant outside and bring them in, it might be carrying a bug, that could get on your other plants. For me, I never bring my outside plants inside.
We have lots of herbs through the summer. Dill, sage, mint, chives, Parsley, basil, etc. I have to admit, I am the “outside” gardener and my mom takes care of the inside! LOL!
Daww ❤ Love the fact that both of you have their places to work with plants!
I have a bamboo plant that’s been hanging out with me for about 6 or 7 years now…I’m not great with plants though, so I’m pleased to have one that forgives me if I forget to water him…
Well, at least some greenery lives with you!
The Oreocereus is really cute and they are quite hardy! I had a similar infestation last year…mine were spider mites and most of my vegetables died an untimely death because of them. I know how you feel, it’s so frustrating! I’m currently hoping my mint, parsley and lemon balm have survived outside – there’s still no sign of them. This year I’m really late with seedlings for my tiny balcony…will probably get my usual chilis, tomatoes and nasturtiums.
Christina | https://caliope-couture.com
Ugh, hope they did survive those mites
and good luck growing your balcony plants as well!
Jut started growing some chilli plants so hopefully they will survive and get to the stage where they produce a chilli also just renovating the garden so will be doing some planting very soon. Great post. Gemma x
Best of luck for growing your chillies and other plants! ❤
[…] time no plant post, huh? Last was Seeds and new plants back in March when I told you about the seeds I planted a few weeks earlier. Those moved to bigger […]